Authorities say he was lured from his job at a Publix warehouse freezer, brought to a Tamarac lake and then ambushed by 18 to 20 enemies who wanted revenge. Williams, faced with the angry mob, ran the only way he could - into the lake, authorities say.

On Friday, more than a year after Williams' body was found, the Sheriff's Office charged four people with felony murder in his death. Siblings Jamila and Darasan Bispham, 19 and 20, were released on bail Friday. Aulry Pierre, 29, who was already in jail, remained behind bars with bail set at $10,000. The fourth suspect, Cion Barnett, 21, is on active duty with the Marine Corps in California and was expected to be detained by military officials Friday.

"The environment that they set up caused his death," Libman said.

Families of three of the suspects were shocked by the arrests. Barnett's relatives couldn't be reached.

Jamila and Darasan Bispham's parents wept about the arrests but declined to discuss the case or provide the name of their attorney.

Pierre's mother, Marie Alexis, couldn't believe he had been charged with murder. "No, this can't be," she said. "My son never, never, never had any problems like that. He's in jail for cocaine possession."

Williams' father, a minister in Orlando, praised detectives for their unwillingness to let his son's case grow cold. "I thank God for the detectives and their persistence," said Albert Williams Sr. "I knew it was no accident. My son knew how to swim."

A fisherman saw Williams' body May 26, 2006, floating in a lake in the 5800 block of Kelsey Lane. The Broward Medical Examiner's Office determined his death was an accidental drowning.

Libman said Williams, 27, made enemies who accused him of stealing from them. Three days before Williams' body was found, those enemies put their plot in motion, Libman said.

He said Jamila Bispham lured Williams to the Tamarac lake with the promise they would smoke marijuana there. When he arrived, the mob - some armed - ambushed him, authorities say. Williams plunged into the water and went under as his attackers threw rocks at him, Libman said.

In February, the medical examiner changed the determination to homicide after detectives used interviews and phone records to place Williams' enemies at the scene of this death.

When the four were arrested, Libman said each admitted having a role in the events of that day, but that none meant to kill him. Libman said there may be more arrests.

Williams' father said his son had been in and out of trouble since he was a teen. State criminal records show he spent four months in 2000 in prison on a robbery charge. But Williams, who lived in Sunrise, had picked up work at a Publix warehouse in Deerfield Beach; the three layers of clothes he had on when he died kept him warm in the freezer.

"He got involved with some unwholesome people, but he had decided to come out of that," Williams' father said.

Now, Albert Williams Sr. awaits the trial. "I'm gonna be there," he said. "I want to look them in the face and say, 'You messed with the wrong father's son and God still reigns in heaven and in earth and he ordains authority and will bring forth justice.' "

Staff Writer Sallie James and Staff Researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.